Receptacle and closure thereof



v Nov.'23, 1948. w, H. SCHRADER I I 2,454,674

RECEPTAGLE AND CLOSURE THEREOF Filed March 7, 1946 FIG. 8

INVENTOR.

' tram n. I

Patented Nov. 23, 1948 OFFICE RECEPTACLE AND CLOSURE THEREOF Wendall H.Schrader, Des Plaines, 111.

Application March 7, 1946, Serial No. 652,638

This invention relates to improvements in bottle closures, and is moreparticularly directed to a sanitary closure for bottles and the like,which is applied and secured to the bottle without the use of separatesecuring means.

With many such closures it has been the general practice to use two ormore units, a preformed cap and a separate binding or sealing elementsuch as a band or a ring of fixed diameter, the latter being placedaround the preformed cap and then distorted or contracted by suitablemeans to force portions of the ring against the cap, and the latteragainst the neck of the bottle, thus leaving the cap with a number ofradial pro- J'ections or folds along the sealing surface.

The use of skirted hoods is also known where an intermediate portion ofthe skirt is compressed into a groove formed in the side of the bottleneck, whereby the capsule is secured to the bottle without additionalmeans.

The use of closure caps of thin, pliable material, such as metal foil,which are molded with a depending crimped flange about the mouth of thecontainer, the sealing contact is poor and therefore these closures areobjectionable in that they permit leakage. Discontinucus or interruptedcap engaging provisions are also common with said pliable material toobliterate the engaging detents in the depending cap skirt or flange, bymeans of a relative rotation of the cap upon the container, after whichrotation the cap may be lifted from the container mouth.

The use of substantially rigid metal closures have been used withcontainers having a mouth bead, where the closure is retained thereon byhaving a portion of its skirt constricted below the bead and into agroove, the bottom of said groove forming a continuous annular ledgeextending outwardly fro-m the container, whereby the bottom of saidconstricted skirt portion bears tightly against the upper surface ofsaid ledge to produce a tamperproof container. These closures areobjectionable in that they are difiicult to remove from the containerand are damaged during said removal from the bottle.

This invention has for its chief object the production of a bottle andclosure cap therefor of novel construction, which will protect the mouthand pouring lip of the bottle against contamination, but which is easilyapplied and removed, in which the applied cap is tamperproof and is inuninterrupted sealing contact about the outer periphery of the mouth ofthe bottle, but which may be loosened for removal by a partial turn ofthe cap relative to the bottle, without deforming 4 Claims. (Cl. 215-38)2 the cap so as to prevent its subsequent re-use for temporarily sealingthe bottle. Another object is to provide a uniform bead, with a grooveadjacent and below the same having variable height and depth with aninclined shoulder, and a wash ring or grip ring in the form of a secondand enlarged bead adjacent said groove, the top thereof forming a ledge,while the entire ring is forming protection for the closure cap and capholding parts, as well as affording means for holding or handling thebottle.

A further object of this invention is to provide a closure for bottles,said closure having a depending skirt with Z fo ds, and which can bepartially preformed and folded in position about the container top byany of the usual methods of forming closure caps over bottle mouths, i.e., by the application of lateral pressure to the cap and container forcrimping portions of the depending cap skirt with Z folds into positionwithin the groove in the outer periphery of the bottle neck adjacent thebottle head A still further object of this invention is to provide anarticle of manufacture comprising a preformed closure of suitablematerial, such as paper, with a depending skirt having plaits or Z foldsextending longitudinally thereof, each plait comprising a corrugation orloop flattened so that substantially one half of said plait lies on eachside of the longitudinal median line of the corrugation from which it isformed, said skirt being capable of being compressed within a groove ina bottle neck whereby said plaits are locked in place forming meanswhereby t e complete closure may be coupled to the bottle withoutadditional means.

In carrying out this invention, the bottle is formed with substantiallyright angled projection upon the bottle neck at a sufficient distancebelow the underside of the bottle bead adjacent the mouth of said botte, so that when the closure cap is in place with its skirt and Z foldslocked between said projection and said bead, the lower edge of saidskirt will contact the upper horizontal surface of said proiection, theprojection as provided has a shoulder which is not parallel with respectto the top surfaceiof the bottle but is inclined circumferentiallvwhereby said closure may be removed by rotation of the same.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this inventionsuch as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of t e relatedelements of the structure. to various details of construction and tocombination of parts, elements .per se, and to economies of manufactureand numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration ofthe specification and drawings of a form of the invention, which may bepreferred, in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary side view of the neck portion of a form ofbottle with a closure positioned above the same ready for applicationthereto.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side view with a portion in sectionzi of thebottle shown in Figure-1 with the closure applied thereto.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on line III-III of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view takerrzorrlirre IV -IV;

of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a. side view of the neck p ortion-of the bottle with amodified type of closurebeingshown in section and a longer skirt thanthat shown in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view 'in perspectiveof theclosure and locking d;

Figure? representsa detail perspective" of a section offa; folded? skirtembodying'a 2' fold.

' Eigure 31313; view similar to Figure 7 where theeZzfold: is creasedforminga' means of locking thesame in' position.-

Referring 'to'the drawings intdetail, the novel bottle of my. inventionmay be used with orwithout'a'disc cap' suchas shown in Figure 2designated by numeral IE1. In a preferred form' of the invention,'I.employabottle closure i2 having an imperforated: central portion l3and" depending sideor skirt portion I4 with a marginal edge i;

The portion lt'ispreierably flat or uniplanar so as to extend overthetop of a bottle it and on which suitable advertising matter may'beprinted if desired". The depending skirt portion I4 is usuallyprovided'withthree ormore' Z folds ll,

said closure formed by suitable dies to provide thenecessary creasesor'scored portions as shownin Figure 1 by creases i8, I9; 20, and-.21.arrangement provides a' sealing closure: which can be contractedbelow'the maximum diameter of: the beadingof bottle mouth 22 and remain"in'sealed' or'locking'p-osition in agroove' 23 adjacent andbelowsaidmouth 22;

The'bottle lt'is' preferably formed with a'grip ringffl' upon the bottleneck at'a' sufiicient'dis tance below the underside of the'bottlebead;the top surface 25'thereof beingformed' at an angle to thebottle b'eadand forming a uniformly'in clined lodge in the groove 23, said groovehaving a vertical cylindricalportionZEand top' portion 2? formed at aright angle to the bottle neck;

The ledge 25 is usually formed at an angle to the axis of' the bottlebutuniformly inclined with" relationtto' the top' surface of'said'bottleas shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5'. The'vertical'wall 26 ofsaid groove-23is formed eccentric with relation toithe" throat28'andmouth ofthe bottleIG-as shown in Figure 3, thus'forming groove 23with a deep narrowportion 29'on one'side an'd'shallow wide portion 30'on the oppositeside-thereof.-

In Figure 5 the closure 42is provided with a long skirt portion with amarginal edge portion 45, .and'when applied to bottle lfi'the skirt iiland edge portion Mare caused to bear tightly against the upper surfaceof the grip ring 24; thereby creasing saidfolds H circumferentiallytwice withinthe groove 23 thereby preventing ,the expansion of saidfolds I! and .the withdrawal of said skirt and foldsfrom said groove.

In Figure 7 the usualztypefold is.shown;and.

iii

unless glued or otherwise secured, said fold can be easily pulled apart;and because of this reason, whenever closures are formed with Z foldsthey need other means such as rings, etc. to secure the closure insealing engagement upon a bottle. In carrying out this invention, thebottle is formed with a groove 23 with substantially right angledprojections upon the bottle neck so that when the closure I2 is placedover thebottlermouth'and the skirt l4 pressed into the groove, threeormorez folds are formed with the lower edge of said skirt contacting thetop surface 25 of said projection 24'. Since the length of" the skirt'isarranged to be the same as the distance from the top surface of the gripring by following the contour of the outer surface of the bead.and-groove, the deformation of the skirt forces the bottom edge thereofagainst the top surface of the ledge 25. Since the skirt is providedwith three or more Z folds or plaits, saidrfoldsxare creasedcircumferentiallyand can notibe'removedwithout showing. that it has beentamperedwithand mutilated. The locking of a' Z IOIdTbYI CIBaSlDgit'atright angles to the normal fold lines thereof is clearly shown in Figure8; The plaiti cannot be unfolded. until the plait is firstifiattened andthen unfolded. Since the skirt length is such that it' is' forcedtightly against.

theitopledgeof the grip ring in the groove, the plait is prevented fromunfolding since the skirt can: not straighten out once it is pressedwithin. th'egroovewith said plaitsor folds.

The bottle. is preferably provided with an in-- clined'ledge. and an'eccentric wall about the bottle throat so asit-o accommodate a closurewith uniform: length skirt, and further providing meanstoremovetheclosure by relative rotation.

of the closureupon' the'container, forcing out the SKlI'IJFZDOT-UOII'embedded with the groove, after which rotation the closurelmay belifted'from thei'containerimouth.

My invention; therefore, provides a closure for containers; whic'h: canbe easily and quicklyremoved and which when applied to a bottle of mydesign is-retained in position against accidental removal; andwhichforms an uninterrupted continuoussealingcontact, as well asprotects the mouth of the container against contamination. Aspoint'edout, the unique way of locking the folds within a groove and theunicue way of forming the folds in the depending skirt portion of theclosure, aswell as forming a sealing contact; allsof'whicli will permitthe easyremoval of the closurefrom the bottle when the cap is rotated'relativet'o the bottle mouth, as well as its subsequent re-use.

Although I'havesh'own and described certain specific embodiments of myinvention, I am fully aware of the many possible modificationsthereof.My inventionis, therefore, not to be restricted except-insofar asnecessitated by theprior art and thespiritofthe applied claims.

Ilclaim:

1. The combinationwith a container having a. mouth and. a. neckprovided. with an. annular groove.ofvariableheight and depth on itsouter circumference,..having an upper and lower surface,,thelowersurface formedlatan angle to. said neck-portioinisaidnlowersurface of saidlgroove. forming, an. upper. surface. for. a shoulder,the. upper surfaceof said groovebeing substantiallyzin. thel-sameuplane.as the mouth and .tophsurfacel of! the .container..while.saidshoulderis of. aninclined contour'.relative-"to,v said-.mouth,. anda closurein.-

eluding a top and a depending skirt of uniform length with a peripheraledge, said skirt having folds extending longitudinally thereof, aportion of said skirt with the folds being compressed within saidgroove, with its peripheral edge in contact with said inclined surfaceof the shoulder, thereby creasing said folds circumferentiallyand-preventing the expansion of said fold and the withdrawal of saidskirt and folds from said groove.

2. In combination, a container having an annular wall defining a fillingand discharging opening, an annular external bead on said wall adjacentsaid opening, an annular external shoulder on said wall below said beadhaving an upper surface, said shoulder of inclined contour relative tosaid bead, said bead and shoulder being spaced apart vertically toprovide an annular recess therebetween of quadrilateral crosssection,and of variable height and depth, and a fibrous closure including a flatclosed end and a depending skirt of uniform length, said skirt having aperipheral lower edge, said skirt having smoothly flattened, tapering Zfolds extending longitudinally thereof, said folds having maximum widthat and being disposed in abutting relationship around the peripherallower edge of the skirt and terminating in the intersection of theclosed end and the skirt, each plait con sisting of three thicknesses offibrous material and being connected to each adjacent plait by a singlethickness of material, a portion of said skirt being compressed withinthe corners therein and against the Walls of said recess for creasingand locking said folds, the lower edge of said skirt solely bearingtightly against the upper inclined surface of said shoulder to produce atamperproof container.

3. The combination with a bottle having a throat, a mouth and a neck,said neck being provided with an annular uninterrupted groove ofquadrilateral cross-section on its outer circumrerence, said groovehaving an inner vertical wall arranged eccentric with relation to thethroat and mouth of said bottle, said groove having an upper and lowerhorizontal surface, the lower horizontal surface forming a shoulder witha top surface, said shoulder being inclined with relation to the topsurface of said bottle, thus combined providing a deep narrow groovewith corners on one side of the bottle and a shallow wide groove withcorners on the opposite side of said bottle, and a closure comprising acap of flexible material with a fiat closed end and 9. depending skirtof uniform length having plaits, said closure being placed over themouth and neck of said bottle with the lower portion of said skirtcompressed within said groove, the peripheral edge of the skirt portionbearing tightly against the top surface of the inclined shoulder of saidgroove to secure the cap in place on the bottle.

4. The combination with a bottle having a throat, a mouth and a neck,said neck being provided with an annular uninterrupted groove on itsouter circumference, said groove having an inner vertical wall arrangedeccentric with relation to the throat and mouth of said bottle, saidgroove having an upper surface and a lower horizontal surface, saidlower surface forming a shoulder with an upper surface, said shoulderbeing uniformly inclined with relation to the top surface of saidbottle, thus combined providing a deep narrow groove with sharp cornerson one side of the bottle and a shallow wide groove with sharp cornerson the opposite side of said bottle, and a closure comprising a cap offlexible material with a flat closed end and a depending skirt of auniform length having plaits said closure being placed over the mouthand neck of said bottle with the lower portion of said skirt compressedwithin said groove, the peripheral portion of the skirt bearing tightlyagain-st the upper surface of the inclined shoulder of said groove tosecure the cap in place on the bottle, but said skirt arranged to beforced out of the groove upon relative rotation of said bottle and cap.

WENDALL H. SCHRADER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,043,620 Marian Nov. 5, 19121,743,280 Manson Jan. 14, 1930 2,096,428 Hogg et a1 Oct. 19, 19372,131,438 Jensen Sept. 27, 1938 2,193,227 Deletzke Mar. 12, 19402,244,625 King June 3, 1941 2,355,493 Wilcox et al Aug. 8, 1944

